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17th。 To Sir W。 Coventry's； reading over first my draught of the administration of the Navy； which he do like very well； and so fell to talk of his late disgrace； and how basely and in what a mean manner the Duke of Buckingham hath proceeded against him； not like a man of honour。 He tells me that the King will not give other answer； about his coming to kiss his hands； than 〃Not yet。〃 But he says that this that he desires of kissing the King's hand is only to show to the world that he is not a discontent； and not in any desire to come again into play； though I do perceive that he speaks this with less earnestness than heretofore； and this it may be is； from what he told me lately； that the King is offended at what is talked； that he hath declared himself desirous not to have to do with any employment more。 But he do tell me that the leisure he hath yet had do not at all begin to be burden some to him； he knowing how to spend his time with content to himself； and that he hopes shortly to contract his expence； so as that he shall not be under any straits in that respect neither； and so seems to be in very good condition of content。 Thence I away over the Park it being now night； to White Hall： and there in the Duchesse's chamber do find the Duke of York； and upon my offer to speak with him； he did come to me and withdrew to his closet； and there did hear and approve my paper of the Administration of the Navy； only did bid me alter these words； 〃upon the rupture between the late King and the Parliament；〃 to these； 〃the beginning of the late Rebellion；〃 giving it me as but reason to show that it was with the Rebellion that the Navy was put by out of its old good course into that of a Commission。 Having done this； we fell to other talk； he with great confidence telling me how matters go among our adversaries； in reference to the Navy； and that he thinks they do begin to flag： but then beginning to talk in general of the excellency of old constitutions； he did bring out of his cabinet； and made me read it； an extract out of a book of my late Lord of Northumberland's； so prophetic of the business of Chatham as is almost miraculous。 I did desire； and he did give it me to copy out； which pleased me mightily。
18th。 To my office again to examine the fair draught； and so borrowing Sir J。 Minnes's coach； he going with Colonell Middleton； I to White Hall； where we all met and did sign it。 And then to my Lord Arlington's； where the King and the Duke of York and Prince Rupert； as also Ormond and the two secretaries； with my Lord Ashly and Sir T。 Clifford； were。 And there by and by being called in； Mr。 Williamson did read over our paper； which was in a letter to the Duke of York； bound up in a book with the Duke of York's Book of Instructions。 He read it well； and after read； we were bid to withdraw； nothing being at all said to it。 And by and by we were called in again； and nothing said to that business； but another begun about the state of this year's action and our wants of money； as I had stated the same lately to our Treasurers； which I was bid； and did largely； and with great content open。 And having so done； we all withdrew； and left them to debate our supply of money； to which being called in； and referred to attend on the Lords of the Treasury； we all departed。 And I only staid in the House till the Council rose； and then to the Duke of York in the Duchesse's chamber； where he told me that the book was there left with my Lord Arlington for any of the Lords to view that had a mind； and to prepare and present to the King what they had to say in writing to any part of it； which is all we can desire； and so that rested。 The Duke of York then went to other talk； and by and by comes the Prince of Tuscany to visit him and the Duchesse； and find that he do still remain incognito； and so intends to do all the time he stays here； for avoiding trouble to the King and himself； and expence also to both。
20th。 At noon comes my guest Mr。 Hugh May； and with him Sir Henry Capell； my old Lord Capell's son； and Mr。 Parker。 And I had a pretty dinner for them； and both before and after dinner had excellent discourse； and showed them my closet and my office； and the method of it； to their great content： and more extraordinary manly discourse and opportunity of showing myself； and learning from others； I have not in ordinary discourse had in my life； they being all persons of worth； but especially Sir H。 Capell； whose being a Parliament…man； and hearing my discourse in the Parliament…house； hath； as May tells me； given him a long desire to know and discourse with me。 In the afternoon we walked to the Old Artillery…ground near the Spitalfields； where I never was before； but now by Captain Deane's invitation did go to see his new gun tryed； this being the place where the officers of the Ordnance do try all their great guns： and when we came； did find that the trial had been made； and they going away； with extraordinary report of the proof of his gun； which； from the shortness and bigness； they do call Punchinello。 But I desired Colonell Legg to stay and give us a sight of her performance； which he did； and there； in short； against a gun more than as long and as heavy again； and charged with as much powder again； she carried the same bullet as strong to the mark； and nearer and above the mark at a point blank than theirs； and is more easily managed； and recoyles no more than that； which is a thing so extraordinary as to be admired for the happiness of his invention； and to the great regret of the old gunners and officers of the Ordnance that were there； only Colonell Legg did do her much right in his report of her； and so having seen this great and first experiment we all parted； I seeing my guests into a hackney…coach； and myself； with Captain Deane； taking a hackney…coach； did go out towards Bow； and went as far as Stratford； and all the way talking of this invention； and he offering me a third of the profit of it； which； for aught I know； or do at present think； may prove matter considerable to us； for either the King will give him a reward for it if he keeps it to himself； or he will give us a patent to make our profit of it； and no doubt but it will be of profit to merchantmen and others to have guns of the same force at half the charge。 This was our talk； and then to talk of other things； of the Navy in general： and； among other things； he did tell me that he do hear how the Duke of Buckingham hath a spite at me； which I knew before； but value it not； and he tells me that Sir T。 Allen is not my friend： but for all this I am not much troubled； for I know myself so usefull that； as I believe； they will not part with me； so I thank God my condition is such that I can retire and be able to live with comfort； though not with abundance。
21st。 To Auditor Wood's； and met my Lord Bellasses upon some business of his accounts。 Attended the Duke of York a little； being the first time of my waiting on him at St。 James's this summer； whither he is now newly gone。 And thence walked to White Hall； and so by and by to the Council…chamber； and heard a remarkable cause pleaded between the Farmers of the Excise of Wiltshire； in complaint against the Justices of Peace of Salisbury： and Sir H。 Finch was for the former。 But； Lord！ to see how he did with his admirable eloquence order the matter； is not to be conceived almost： so pleasant a thing it is to hear him plead！ after dinner by water to White Hall； where the Duke of York did meet our office； and went with us to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury： and there we did go over all the business of the state I had drawn up of this year's action and expence； which I did do to their satisfaction； and convincing them of the necessity of providing more money； if possible； for us。 Thence the Duke of York being gone； I did there stay walking with Sir H。 Cholmly in the Court； talking of news； where he told me that now the great design of the Duke of Buckingham is to prevent the meeting； since he cannot bring about with the King the dissolving of this Parliament； that the King may not need it； and therefore my Lord St。 Alban's is hourly expected with great offers of a million of money to buy our br